Thursday, August 2, 2012

Some 1,300 families yesterday fled their homes and
sought refuge at temporary shelters put up by the city governments of
Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela after the main river overflowed and
dikes collapsed, catching the local officials and residents by surprise.

The
massive evacuation of affected families was immediately ordered,
especially in Navotas and Malabon areas after the Tullahan River
overflowed due to the strong rainfall early yesterday morning which was
worsened by high tide that reached its peak at 2.2 meters around 9 a.m.
yesterday.

Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco in a text message to
Tribune said nearly 600 families were evacuated to several schools and
covered courts converted into their temporary shelters after their
houses were inundated by floodwaters.

He added the damaged pumping
stations and collapsing dikes largely contributed to the flooding in
almost half of the entire barangays in the coastal city..... MORE